Five years after Valton was laid out, preliminary to become a town, the very unpleasant thought of was broke suddenly upon the consciousness of the people. When war was about to break loose in the South, a letter was written by a recent settler to his father in England. It deserves being copied here because it sheds much light on the conditions of things at that time.

Feb. 15, 1861

Dear Father,

It is four years since I have written you and I an ashamed that I have neglected to write, but hope from this time forth to keep up my correspondence to you. I have bought 220 acres of land in the town of Woodland, county of Sauk, State of Wisconsin, on which I am now living. I have a wife and two children. The oldest is a girl two years, the youngest about 11 months old. Our boy we call William Wilson, our girl Martha Elizabeth. Brother Sam is here. He has been sick since last April. First he was attacked with inflammation of the lungs and has not been able to work since. Simeon has 80 acres of land and lives one half mile from me. He has three children living. James was well when Sam. left. He has a wife and one child.

I have married an American women and live happy and agreeable together. And probably I am permanently settled. I have one yoke of cattle, two cows, and hog, and I had one cow that died three days ago. I killed nine fat hogs this Fall, sold four of them and the others I kept for myself. The land is heavily timbered and as rich as any you would find in old England. I have about thirty acres under cultivation and raise wheat, corn, potatoes, oats, barley, rye, turnip and every thing that is raised on a farm.

We are all well with the exception of Sam, we have our health as well as we ever had. We like this country better than England for a man can make money and make a living and do not desire to come back to England to live again. Brother Sam has a mare to ride so he is better off than he would be in England. And now I will tell you something about the state of America, we are on the verge of a Civil War and perhaps before you get this there will be fighting done in the South and to what will be the end no one can tell. But if on compromise is made, the country will be destroyed.

And when you write I would like to know about things at home. Who sister Elizabeth married, and how they get along, how Ruth and her husband are getting along, and how your health has been, what Abraham and Jacob are doing and whether they intend to come to this country, and if they do, not to get married till they get here. I think they can do better to come here single.

I have had my name changed to John Mortimer. (It had been Bull.) When I came to America I thought that there was no one by my name here and so I went by the name of Mortimer and I entered my land and got married by that name and so I had to apply to the legislature and have it changed, which they did and therefore when you write to me you call me by that name.

We would all like to see you. I do not think I will ever come back to England and therefore we may not meet unless you should come to see me. How is Mother?

With much respect I remain your son,

John Mortimer
Oaks Post Office
Sauk county, Wisconsin

The letter that was on page 30 was kept by the family in England until one of the descendants, Thomas Buckingham, began writing to my father, James Mortimer, around 1930. During the years that Mr. Buckingham wrote to father, he sent the letter that has been reproduced. It was a thrill to see this old letter. It was sent to Reedsburg free press where it was copied for their paper. At present Celi and Rhiny Hendricks are in possession of the heirloom.

The Civil was did come that was forecast in the letter above and a number of men and boys from Valton volunteered to serve the country in this time, to make sure that there would be a country to live in when they came back, a country more like the kind they have already learned to love and serve.

James Cannon : enlisted February 1864 in Co. A, 36th. WVA. Captured in VA. Aug. 25 1865. Taken to Libby Prison & transferred to others. Exchanged in March 1866.
Charles Gibbons : enlisted 1864, Co. H, 12th WVI. Marched with Sherman to the Sea.
Eli D. Horton : Enlisted 1862 in Co. I, 1st WVI. Severely wounded at Burnt Church, GA. June 1864. Discharged April 1865.
S. W. Sherman : Served the last year of the war. (Father of Nellie and WM. Sherman).
Simeon Mortimer : Served 4 months in Army the last year.
Asa Stuck : He was in Libby Prison.
WM. Shore
WM. Mullenix
John Fink
WM. Chamness
WM. Bedell
Henry Brown

These sketches I remember hearing the old Veterans tell. One man, a very raw recruit, could not remember which was his right and left foot. So the Captain, a resourceful man, tied hay to one foot and straw to the other. Then he marched the man around saying, hayfoot, strawfoot, hayfoot, strawfoot, ect.. That man learned to march.

One of the men from Valton was displaying his interest in a large cannon one day. To his surprise the gunner said "Just watch me hit that man standing on the hill." He aimed the cannon, fired and cut the poor fellow in two pieces.

They used to tell how friendly the Southern soldiers would get at times with those of the North. They would get in talking distance and even exchange things.

Even to day it makes news when a young man goes off to war and does his share of fighting on he was before he is of draft age. That is what WM. Shore did during the Civil War. But he was regretful after getting in the service that he had gone so soon.

When the Armistice was signed Valton shared the rejoicing with the whole country. I can remember being out in the yard at home when we heard the good news. My father garbed the shot gun and as he held it skyward, shot it into the air in celebration. He was so excited he forgot to hold the gun with both hands and it ripped a hole in his hand just back of the thumb.

It was to be regretted that less information is to be found about the men who fought in this war, than I have given for the men in the Civil War. To the best of my knowledge the following men were in the first World War: Albert Ginter, Glenn Good, Joseph Landsinger, Lewis Manglos, George Shore, Glenn Shore, Lee Beier-was given the duties befitting a conscientious objector.

Albert Ginter was the only Valton boy who saw actual fighting. He was up front with his group when a bullet hit his arm. This caused partial paralysis. He received treatment in a hospital in Iowa. Albert had no relatives in Valton. Anna and Noah Mortimer were his guardians.

Joe Landsinger was drafted in July of 1918 and was sent across in six weeks. He received his training at Camp Grant, Ill. and was in the infantry. When he went across he was in England a week before going on the France. Joe didn't get to see any of the actual fighting. He was discharged in April 1919.

The Shore brothers, Glenn and George, were in the Navy and Merchant Marines respectively.

Two families have the distinction of having four boys leave for service. The Glenn Mortimer boys and the Janechek boys, saw some real action on the battle line. I shall record their excellent records and the records of others in the next few pages.

Byron Bauer entered the Air Force in Sept. of 1940 and was in until March 1947. Byron received his training at Scott Field in Ill. He saw active service in the Mid-Pacific on Johnston Island.


Karel Gibbons received his army training at Camp Hulen Texas, after entering the army March 1 1943. He was in maneuvers six months in Louisiana. The branch of service Karel was in was the 553 A A A, auto weapons battalion. While they were 18 month's over seas they were in England, landed on Omaha beach Aug. 4, 1944 continued in through Cherbourg, French, then went through Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was in the Ruher Pocket and the battle of Ardenned Forest. Karel also was active fighting in the Rhine crossing. He and his gun crew were the first to cross the Rhine Dike the night of the famous Rhine crossing when the ninth army was advancing toward the heart of Berlin. Karel was awarded a good conduct metal and ribbon and three bronze service stars. Karel is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Ray Gibbons. He was discharged March 14, 1946 after being in the service 3 years.


Earl Gibbons a brother of Karel, was the only World War 2 casualty, from the boys who went from the area we have included in this history. Earl was a member of the Engineers Corps that delivered petroleum products to the war machines. He entered the service May 10, 1943 when 21 years old as a volunteer. From Milwaukee he went to Camp Clayborne, Louisiana, in August. After three month's training Earl was sent over seas without being given a furlough before he went. Earl had a disability which had been the cause of rejection for many other boys. But they seem to ignore this at headquarters, and the day his folks bade him good-bye at Baraboo was the last they ever saw him alive and well. Earl left for North Africa from the port at New York City. From Africa he was taken to Italy where there was a considerable amount of fighting. He and his outfit helped evacuate the peoples when Mt. Vasuvus, an active volcano exploded. He was at Anzio & Cassino. In June of 1944 his parents received word that Earl had been injured in a motor accident and was dangerously ill. A week later another telegram came saying he was worse. A week later the final word. The telegram was dated May 30, May 31 and June 1. His body was laid away at Naples. In 1948 his parents had his body returned and after a very impressive memorial service was held at the Valton Friends Church, his remains were laid to rest in the little cemetery on the hillside.


Ronald Henderson chose the Navy and entered November of 1943. He was trained at the Great Lakes Navel training station and was sent to the Pacific. Ronald was on the battleship Wisconsin. He was near Japan in the last battle before the war ended. He could no doubt tell us many stories about his experienced. He was discharged in July 1945.


Lewis "Bud" Hendericks was in the service from April 9, 1943 to October 16, 1945. During that time he was a tail gunner on a B24. When his bomber was shot down he was a prisoner of the Germans, for almost a year. Bud was trained in the following schools Greensboro, North Carolina ; Denver, Colorado; Harlington Gunner School, Texas and Boise, Idaho. On the way to the battle area he flew to Italy over the southern route which took him to Trinidad, Brazil, French West Africa, Morocco and Tunisia. Then they came to Italy where bud was attached to the 44th bomber group of the army air force. This is what bud wrote about his terrible experience when his plane was shot down. On July 8th, 1944 we were making our 19th bombing mission. Our target was Florsdorf, Austria and as we approached the target we were badly damaged by anti-aircraft guns. After the bombs were dropped and we were lagging behind our group, German fighter planes attacked us and set our plane on fire, forcing us to parachute. I was captured by the Germans July 10, 1944 and held prisoner until May 6, 1945 when the English army liberated us. Buds mother told me an incident of Buds experience that you might be interested in. The German soldiers guarding Bud and the others were commanded to march the for miles through the country. The prisoners were given so little food to eat that they hardly had strength to keep going. Not even the guards had enough to eat. One night they came upon a barn and found a place to rest, but their hunger would hardly let them sleep. Some got the idea that there might be cows in the stable. There were. You might wish to imagine what the farmer thought when he came to milk his cows the next morning and found them dry. Bud is the son of Cecil and Rhiney Hendericks. His metal won were: Air Metal with 3 Oak leaf clusters.


Merlin Hendericks, Buds older brother, entered the navy, April 1945 and was stationed at San Francisco and previous to this, the Great Lakes Naval Station, ILL. Merlin received his discharge in April 1946.


Earl Holderman had some exciting weeks a member of the Army's 12th armored division. Earl saw service from October 25th, 1942 to January 25th, 1946. His training took place at Camp Campbell, Kentucky and Camp Barkly Texas. Earl went over seas with his division and saw action with Battery B, 49th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. They landed in England October 1, 1944. In about a month they went to France and were in French and Germany till the war ended. They were with the 7th Army most of the time, but were with the 3rd Army on a drive from their to the Rhine River. Earl crossed the Rhine at worms on a Treadway Bridge. He crossed with his battalion over the Danube and was in the Bavarian Alps when the war ended. Earl was familiar with danger many times and had some close shaves. On one occasion he got a bullet hole in his shirt and fragment holes in his jacket but was not hurt. One drive took them along the road where some German vehicles were burning. Earl thought it would make a good picture, a burning half track. As he bent to look for his camera, the half track blew up. The top of the half track Earl was riding in was full of bullet holes. He owes his life to this little move to bend over to look for his camera. The Armor on the lower part of the vehicle had warded off the exploding ammunition.


Raymond Janechek saw plenty of fighting with the Army in Germany. He entered the service November 20, 1940 and was not mustered out till October 13, 1945. Ray saw training at Fort Snelling; Fort Riley, Kansas; Camp Robinson, Arkansas and a Camp in California. He was in Germany 13 months during which time he was wounded in the battle of The Bulge. He was awarded the purple Heart and other metals. Ray is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Janechek.


Harry Janechek entered the service with the Army April 21, 1942. He was trained at two schools O. R. T. C. and A. P. G. in Maryland. Harry gained valuable experience in mechanics by helping to repair war machines. He was discharged December 14, 1945. Harry was the second of four brothers to enter the service.


Harvey Janechek after being trained at camp Hood, Texas and in Australia, saw plenty of fighting in New Guinea, Philippines, Leyte and Japan. Harvey was a tank destroyer. He was wounded on Leyte Island and won awards for his battle service. Harvey was in from January 9, 1943 to December 4, 1945.


Roy Manglos entered the Army on September 11, 1942. He was trained at Camp Livingston, LA; Camp Gordon, Johnson, FL; Camp Pickett, VA and Red River , Texas. His tour of duty included England, France and Germany. His branch was the infantry, medical aid man, in the 28th division. He met his wife to be while he was in Europe and they were married at Birmingham, England on May 26th, 1945. Just after the Germans had surrendered. His service awards include Unit Presidential Citation, three Bronze Battle Stars, one Invasion Arrowhead, Good Conduct and Theater Ribbons. Roy was discharged October 10, 1945.


Staff Sgt. Duan Mortimer entered the Army October 16th, 1942 and received his training at Aberdeen, Proving Grounds Aberdeen MD. He served in Australia, New Gunea, Philippines, and Japan. On January 22. He was returned to civilian life. Duane was the first of three brothers to receive training in a branch of service.


Sgt. Walter Mortimer was trained in the Air Force at Camp Hood, Texas and served in the Pacific theater. He was in the service from February 17, 1945 to August 27th, 1946. Walter left for overseas on the 6th of August and landed on Leyte Island in the Philippines. They went to Samar and Guam. They then went to Siapan before returning to San Francisco September 28th, 1946. The awards he won were Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Victory Metal and Good Conduct Metal.. Walter is the second oldest son of Dolph and Millie Mortimer.


Dale Mortimer Son of Mrs. Florence Mortimer, was in the Army from February 14, 1945 to December 13, 1946. He was with the 6th Engineering Combat Battalion and trained at Camp Hood Texas. He was on the Island of Luzon, in the Philippines and then went to Korea with the occupational Army. Dale received service Ribbons and Overseas Bars.


Sgt. Jerome O. Mortimer was in the Army serving with the 36th Chemical Depot Co. and when he was in Africa in Gen. George S. Patton's Army. Jerome was mustered in February 10, 1942 and mustered out November 9th, 1945. Jerome was at Fort Sheridan, ILL. and later at Fort McPherson, GA. He received his training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Then he left the United States on November 2, 1942 and landed in North Africa. They traveled from Casablanca to Tunisia, from Tunisia to Palermo, Sicily. He was in Sicily several months and he returned to the United States February 1, 1944 took more training at Camp Sibert, Alabama with other recruits. On November 25, 1944 he left the United States for Marseilles, France. Then he went through France and into Germany. Jerome experienced his first Air Raid in Casablanca. They were housed in a warehouse having a skylight window. When the first bomb burst they were all asleep. The glass in the window shattered and of course fell on them. While they were making their way out of the building, one fellow fell into a tank of water in the middle of the warehouse. Jerome won medals and ribbons in the following campaigns: Scillian, Rhineland and Central Europe.


Maurice W. Mortimer T/F 5 I don't have the full information on Maurice's term in the service. I remember this one incident when Millie, Glen got a letter from Maurice and Jerome both and asked their mother where the other was stationed. Then she noticed they were both in the some town in Africa.


Rufus Owen went into the Army November 13th 1942 and took his basic training at Camp Beale, California. For 13 months with the 13th Armored Division. He spent 5 1/2 months in Camp Bowie, Texas. After spending a short time in two other Camps they sailed for Glassglo, Scotland arriving their June 13th. They took a train through the full length of England to South England, where they stayed 3 1/2 months. They sailed for France, landing at Omaha Beach. There they saw many ships wrecked and laying on their sides. Down the beach there were two cemeteries each containing 3000 soldiers and another with 2000 on the other side. When they moved on to Fontainebleau the men had to clean up the headquarters before living in them. One boy found what he thought was a potato masher, he threw it into the fire but it exploded and hit him in the stomach. It was a Hand Grenade. Rufus and 16 others were chosen to go to Paris to the stars and strips. A G. I. newspaper. They were given a hotel to stay in and a jeep to drive because their work was 47 miles from the hotel. This arrangement lasted 7 months. When the troops moved closer to the front, Rufus had to go back to Paris. On the way a Frenchman tried to stop him and was nearly shot because he thought he was a German until the jeep lights shone on the men. Rufus then was assigned to Reims, France and was given a truck for his city route. He was there 5 1/2 months. Then he was informed that he would be discharged because of his age, 38. This took place November 5, 1945. Rufus received a number of ribbons and a Good Conduct award.


William Owen saw and took part in some of the most dangerous and thrilling actions in the last war including The Normandy Invasion. He entered the Army February 4th, 1942 and was in the Armored Field Artillery. William trained at Camp Polk, LA and received training for the Africa Invasion by training maneuvers at Desert Center, California. He took training for 9 months at Warminister, England and Anti Aircraft training at Pen Hale, England. Their Artillery Maneuvers were completed at Salsberry, England. He was there when the Armies were massing for the huge invasion of Normandy and was on the front lines when mass bombing attacks opened the giant "Normandy break through". When on the sea he and others were in a bad storm that washed some of their number off the deck and were drowned. He was bombed and strafed for four hours by their own planes, in the battle of the Bulge. William was a member of the tank team that captured a whole German Division one day. His outfit rescued the survivors of the terrible Nohausen Prison, that had only 2000 survivors out of 5000 bodies examined and hauled to hospital units. They also captured two other prison camps of political prisoners. His Division was also the one to meet the Russian Army at Dessau, Germany, 28 miles from Berlin and was the division nearest the city at the end of the war. Their division captured more German prisoners than any other in the entire E. T. O. The path of combat was under the robot path used to bomb Liege, Belgium; Ververs, Belgium and London England. Robots landed in their midst a number of times. Before his discharge October 10th, 1945, He received five combat stars which include the following campaigns: Normandy, North France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe. The countries of France and Belgium decorated his entire division and he received metal honors for the same.


Reginald Nash son of Mr. & Mrs. George Nash, entered the Navy Aug. 5th, 1943. He was at Great Lakes Naval Station at Treasure, on Treasure Island. He received a three week course in tropical medicine which trained him for the work of Medical Laboratory Technician which he took up in Hospital work where he was stationed. After leaving the United Stated he enjoyed a 8 month stay on the island of Maui, Hawaii, being attached to the 4th Marine Division. At the wars end Reginald was flown to China by the way of Kawajelein, Guam, Okinawa and Shanghai. Then he went to Tsingtao, North China where 6 months were spent with the 6th Marine Division. He helped liberate a Japanese prison camp where around 300 Chinese were found to be in the last stages of malnutrition, malaria and other diseases. He was discharged April 28th, 1946. He was given the rating of Ph. M. 2C.

Alfred Bulin	Francis Owen
Percy Cox	Roger Piehl
Alance Gibeaut	Cyrus Rott
Rollis Gibeaut	Wagne Thacher
Harold Mortimer

1948 and into Cold Korea

World unrest and war is still claiming our boys. We now pay tribute to the boys who have been called since Germany and Japan surrendered. They have gone out to face the danger and homesickness, loneliness and doubt, suffering and fatigue that comes to the strongest as well as the weakest. Of all who have already served or are serving, it is truly remarkable that there has been but one casualty thus far. The boys named in the following lines are listed in the order of their induction.

Donald Janechek entered the service November 1, 1948 and was discharged September 20, 1951. He chose the Air Force and received his training at Kelly Field, Texas and Denver, Colorado. He served on the Military Air Transport service from Kelly Field Texas to Japan and Korea.


Leo Landsinger served from December 7th, 1948 to December 1949. In the Air Force doing office work. His basic training was taken at Lackland Air Force base and office training at Fort Warren Wyoming, he was stationed at Chanute Field A. F. Base, Rantoul ILL. But was never sent overseas. On his days off he'd go riding in B-25 airplanes. Since leaving the Air Force Leo remains on the reserve list. He was awarded Academic Efficiency, receiving a Superior rating.


Kenneth Henderson was in the Army from November 24th, 1950 to November 1952. He was in the Army Transportation Corps and received training in three camps: Camp McCoy, Wisconsin; South Carolina and Texas. Although Kenneth is home he remains on the reserve list.


Captain Dean R. Mortimer saw service from August 6th, 1951 and is still in as of the writing. Dean received infantry training in Hawaii at the Schofield Barracks. He has spent 6 months in Hawaii and 10 1/2 months in Korea.


Roger Moon entered the Air Force August 22, 1951. He took his basic at Sampson A. F. Base in New York and Chanute A. F. Base in ILL. Roger has been instructor in the Weather school at Chanute the past 9 months. But is now being transferred to Brooks A. F. Base Texas.


Harley Henderson is now serving on a island near Japan, working in a hospital. He was inducted October 17th, 1951 and took training at Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Denver, Colorado with the Army Medics.


Donald D. Mortimer was in the service only from February 6th, 1952 to October of the same year. He received a medical discharge due to trouble with his foot that was broken two years before. He was in the United States Marines and was trained at San Diego, California.


Glenn A. Mortimer entered the United States Marines May 1950 and received training at Parris Island South Carolina. At this time he is in Korea, perhaps in the front lines. He was sent to Korea in December 1953. Donald and Glenn Jr. are sons of Glenn and Millie (Shore) Mortimer. Two other sons Jerome and Maurice saw active fighting in W. W. 2.


Jordan Nash son of Mr. and Mrs. George Nash, is now in the Air Force. He is an instructor in the Dental Technician school at Great Lakes ILL. He enlisted last June 1952 and took basic training at Lackland, then was sent to Dental school. He graduated with honors and was asked to remain as an instructor. Jordan was graduated in 1952 from Platteville State College with a B. S, in Agricultural education.


Donald Thompson entered the service February 1, 1948 and was trained in the Air Force at San Antonio, Texas. While he was in Germany 1948 & 1949, he helped in the Berlin Air Lift. When the need for planed was not so great, Donald drove a large semi truck from Erding to Berlin. They never informed him what the load was. He was in Alaska in 1950-1951. Mrs. Sadie Thompson is his foster mother.


Two others who have been in the service from Valton are: Donnie Shore and Dale Holderman. I sent them questionnaires but have nor received a replay at this writing.

Thanks are due those who were helpful in sending the information about all the boys who have been in the service on our country during the last few years. Many of them have gone through more mental and physical discomfort in two or three years than most of us will have in a life time. They have been returning equipped with grown up ideas and an ambition to make up for the time spent away from a preparation for life's occupation.

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